A massive evacuation process has begun in West Bengal and Odisha's coastal regions in the wake of cyclone Yaas, which is expected to be as intense as Cyclone Tauktae which slammed into the west coast last week.
The cyclone is likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm by Monday night and will bring winds of speed of up to 180 kms per hour when it makes landfall on West Bengal and Odisha coasts on Wednesday, the weather department said earlier today. It is very likely to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts between Paradip and Sagar Island around May 26 noon and make landfall near Balasore in north Odisha, news agency PTI quoted an Met department official as saying.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the state is targeting to shift at least 10 lakh people to safer places in a bid to avoid any loss of life. In Odisha, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Jena told reporters that the evacuation process has already begun and would be completed by Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier in the day, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with the Chief Ministers of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to review the preparations in view of cyclone Yaas.
Here are the Highlights on Cyclone Yaas:
#CycloneYaas | Calcutta High Court cancels all matters listed on 26th and 27th May, in view of the warning issued by India Meteorological Department (IMD) for the cyclonic storm pic.twitter.com/fGUOcesbUY
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
#CycloneYaas update. Time: 2300 HRS IST, Date: 24.05.2021, Source: IMD, Bhubaneswar.@CMO_Odisha @SecyChief @IPR_Odisha @osdmaodisha pic.twitter.com/fFInZtcxoS
- SRC, Govt of Odisha (@SRC_Odisha) May 24, 2021
The Odisha Government on Monday assigned senior officers to supervise relief, rehabilitation and restoration work in the high risk districts that are likely to be affected due to cyclone Yaas, according to news agency PTI. The officers concerned were requested to proceed to the respective districts immediately. Besides, the state police said more than 800 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) personnel are in a high state of readiness for the cyclone Yaas.
Odisha is fully prepared to tackle cyclone Yaas, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik informed the Centre on Monday. The very severe cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall near Balasore on May 26. While interacting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah who reviewed the cyclone situation, Mr Patnaik said the state is fully prepared and "our officers are in touch with officers of the union government. We'll get back on requirements."
The Odisha government has already evacuated about one thousand people from the low-lying areas and vulnerable storm-surge pockets in the four districts of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, according to news agency PTI.
Five teams deployed in East Midnapore & 2 teams in Digha. Evacuation has started in Digha with people in temporary shelters being evacuated while those in permanent houses have been asked to take necessary precautions, ahead of Cyclone Yaas: NDRF Asst Commandant (2nd Battalion) pic.twitter.com/OO1xlHDoek
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
People in Odisha's coastal districts of Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur are reluctant to move to the government shelters due to the fear of getting infected, news agency PTI quoted an official as saying. The massive shifting process is underway in view of the impending cyclone Yaas.
The official, who is monitoring the evacuation work in Jagatsinghpur's Erasama block, said maintaining social distancing norms while carrying out evacuation has become an uphill task. "Still we're trying to convince the people not to take chances and shift to cyclone shelters and pucca houses," the report quoted him as saying.
The Odisha government has decided to suspend all activities related to COVID-19, including testing, vaccination and door-to-door survey work, in three cyclone-prone districts in view of the impending Cyclone Yaas, according to news agency PTI. The three districts - Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj - fall in red zones having over 1,000 active coronavirus cases. A notification issued by the health department said the district collectors of Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur and Keonjhar will take a call on suspension of the COVID related activities in their jurisdiction.
BJP members from regions that are likely to be affected by Cyclone Yaas have been asked to start an evacuation campaign, reported news agency PTI. It said party president JP Nadda held a review meeting with party officials, MPs and MLAs of West Bengal, Odisha, Sikkim and Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and asked them to set up coordination committees at state and district levels, and begin a campaign to undertake relief works.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Monday Cyclone Yaas's impact is going to be much more than Cyclone Amphan, which had hit the eastern state last year. She said the cyclone might affect 20 districts of the state and her government is targeting to shift at least 10 lakh people to safer places in a bid to avoid any loss of life.
"Cyclone Yaas's impact is going to be much more than Amphan, according to the information we have received so far. This is going to affect at least 20 districts in West Bengal. The districts of Kolkata, North and South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur will be severely affected," she said, according to news agency PTI.
YAAS over Eastcentral BoB, lay centred at 1730 hrs IST of 24th May about 450 km south-southeast of Paradip (Odisha) and 540 km south-southeast of Digha (WB), move north-northwestward, to cross between Paradip and Sagar Island around Balasore, during noon of 26th May as a VSCS. pic.twitter.com/wPYGm6Quqr
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 24, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has enquired about the preparedness of Assam, Sikkim and Meghalaya to tackle cyclone Yaas, reported news agency PTI. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed him that emergency services have been pressed into action. He said in a tweet that the cyclone is likely to affect the region on 26-27 May. For Assam and Meghalaya, the India Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall on May 26-27.
#CycloneYaasUPDATE-24/5/21 @NDRFHQ #Committed2Serve 🇮🇳#NDRFकाएकहीमंत्र#आपदासेवासदैवसर्वत्र🇮🇳
- ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) May 24, 2021
🔸#NDRF @ WORK 24x7
🔸Preparation
🔸Awareness drive
🔸CitizenSafety
🔸Namkhana,S24Parganas Dist
🔸WB @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @BhallaAjay26 @ANI @PIBKolkata @07ndrf pic.twitter.com/sV6V3aPC06
#CycloneYaas Update24/5/21
- ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) May 24, 2021
🔸@NDRFHQ NOW commits 🔸109 teams
🔸Across 6 States/UT
🔸52 tms(22+30 more)-Odisha
🔸35 tms(25+10more)WB
🔸Rest across JH/AP/TN/A&N
🔸Ref Map👇@PMOIndia @HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 @PIBHomeAffairs @PIBBhubaneswar @PIBKolkata @ANI @PTI_News @RanchiPIB pic.twitter.com/YgK3JJIaXE
#CycloneYaasUpdate | Odisha government suspends #COVID19 testing, vaccination, door to door survey in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar districts: Health and Family Welfare Department, Odisha (ANI)
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 24, 2021
In view of the upcoming #CycloneYAAS, @PWD_Odisha has operationalized a Control Room to monitor pre-cyclonic preparedness & post cyclonic repair & restoration works. The 24x7 Control Room can be reached at 0674-2393250@CMO_Odisha @Krishan_Kumar09 @DDOdiaNews @airnews_cuttack pic.twitter.com/ZdIesfLVH9
- PIB in Odisha (@PIBBhubaneswar) May 24, 2021
#CycloneYaasUPDATE-24/5/21 @NDRFHQ #Committed2Serve 🇮🇳#NDRFकाएकहीमंत्र#आपदासेवासदैवसर्वत्र🇮🇳
- ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) May 24, 2021
🔸#NDRF @ WORK 24x7
🔸Preparation
🔸Awareness drive
🔸Safety of Citizens
🔸North 24 Parganas Dist
🔸WB @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @PIBHomeAffairs @BhallaAjay26 @ANI @PIBKolkata @07ndrf pic.twitter.com/lfB60j89XJ
#WATCH | West Bengal: Ships being tied with ropes at Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata, as a precautionary measure ahead of #CycloneYaas. A control room set up for the Port.
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
(Video Source: Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata) pic.twitter.com/2XfpIkW7NA
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said the Centre, despite promising all forms of assistance to combat cyclone Yaas, has agreed to provide an advance of only Rs 400 crore, while smaller states such as Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are being given Rs 600 each. Her remark came following a meeting of Home Minister Amit Shah with chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Bengal, and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Ms Banerjee said her state, which is more densely populated, was facing "repeated discrimination".
"We had a meeting with Amit Shah-ji this morning. The Centre is providing more than Rs 600-crore each to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, and only Rs 400 crore-something to Bengal to fight Cyclone Yaas. This is money being paid in advance, something the states are supposed to get. This isn't extra," she said, according to news agency PTI. "At the meeting, I sought to know why Bengal, despite being a bigger state than Odisha and Andhra Pradesh -- both in terms of population density and number of districts -- is getting less? Why are we being deprived repeatedly?" Ms Banerjee said.
The Met department said Monday that cyclone Yaas is very likely to make landfall near Balasore in north Odisha with a speed of 155 kmph to 165 kmph, gusting to 185 kmph, around noon on May 26, according to news agency PTI.
Sanjib Bandopadhyay, the deputy director at the Regional Met Centre in Kolkata, said the system, which lay centred about 620 km south-southeast of Balasore and 610 km south-southeast of Digha in West Bengal over east central Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, will move in a north-northwesterly direction.
It will intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday night and further intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by May 26 early morning, he told reporters. "It will cross into the land between Paradip in Odisha and Sagar island in West Bengal, close to Balasore,"
Mr Bandopadhyay said.
The system will have a sustained speed of 90 kmph to 100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, along and off Odisha coast on May 26 morning, he said.
Cyclone Yaas expected to cross Bengal and Orissa coasts on May 26, wind speeds of 155-165 km/hr expected#CycloneYaas pic.twitter.com/rtgHVNUwIh
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 24, 2021
The police also informed that 12 formations of the ODRAF, apart from NDRF and Fire Services teams, were deployed for the pre and post-cyclone operations. Twelve platoons force has also been deployed for the same.
Assistant Director General (ADG) Law and Order, Y K Jethwa, visited Balasore and Bhadrak areas and reviewed the plans for evacuation and preparedness for post-cyclone rescue and recovery operations, according to the report.
#CycloneYaasUpdate | "There are 35 NDRF teams already deployed in West Bengal, some have been deployed in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Andaman and Nicobar. Some teams may have to be deployed in Jharkhand as cyclonic storm may impact some cities": NDRF DG SN Pradhan (ANI)
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 24, 2021
#CycloneYaasUpdate | "The cyclone has developed into deep depression, it's moving towards the Odisha coast on the conjunction of Odisha and West Bengal. It is likely to make landfall on May 26. 20 more NDRF teams will be deployed in Odisha": NDRF DG SN Pradhan (ANI) pic.twitter.com/In5aYpA9Tv
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 24, 2021
Cyclone Yaas is now located around 520 km South-SouthEast of Paradip (in Odisha) and is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours, said HR Biswas, Director, IMD Bhubaneswar, according to news agency ANI. Over the subsequent 24 hours, it will intensify into very severe cyclonic storm, said Mr Biswas.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said 20 districts of the state will be severely affected due to cyclone Yaas, according to news agency ANI. She said 4,000 cyclone shelters are ready and 10 lakh people are to be evacuated. Fifty one disaster management teams, 1,000 electricity and 400 mobile network restoration teams have been formed, the chief minister added.
MHA assured an advance relief of Rs 600 crores to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh but only Rs 400 crores to West Bengal. This is discriminatory: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee#CycloneYaas pic.twitter.com/tl1vcXGJUT
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
#CycloneYaas is likely to affect the region on 26-27 May. Union Home Minister Amit Shah called and enquired about the preparedness of Assam, Sikkim & Meghalaya. Informed that emergency services have been pressed into action: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pic.twitter.com/kDjadKCLck
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
NDRF has pre positioned 46 teams in this 5 states & the engineering task force with boats and rescue equipment, are on standby for active deployment should the need arise :@PiyushGoyal
- Piyush Goyal Office (@PiyushGoyalOffc) May 24, 2021
#CycloneYaas: Trains Cancelled In The Eastern Coastal Areas https://t.co/UdgZ0kXmbS pic.twitter.com/OHsP2098b9
- NDTV (@ndtv) May 24, 2021
At 1130 IST, Cyclone 'Yaas' about 520 km south-southeast of Paradip. To intensify further and cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts betweenParadip and Sagar Islands around Balasore, during noon of 26th Mayas a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm. pic.twitter.com/Xb9cHYsfyE
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 24, 2021
Odisha | Arrangements made for a smooth evacuation following #COVID norms. Oxygen plants are given alternate power backups. Adequate buffer oxygen stocks are being made available to COVID hospitals in cyclone-prone area: Pradeep K Jena Special Relief Commissioner#CycloneYaas pic.twitter.com/xis7vDDvn2
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
In view of the latest IMD advisory, eight teams of the 1st Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been airlifted from Guwahati to Odisha for rescue and search operations in view of the impending cyclone Yaas in Bay of Bengal.
"The state governments had requisitioned more than 50 teams of the NDRF in Odisha and 35 teams in West Bengal. The teams from NDRF battalions in Assam and Bihar are airlifted to Odisha and West Bengal in addition to those from the battalion stationed in the districts," said HPS Kandari, Commandant, 01 NDRF.
These teams, comprising 200 personnel of 01 NDRF Guwahati, including engineers, paramedics, technical experts and others, were airlifted from Guwahati's Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport to the Bhubaneswar airport in two transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
These teams are equipped with flood rescue boats and collapse search and rescue operation specialist equipment.
There will be no shortage of Liquid Medical Oxygen (LMO) due to #CycloneYaas. Only a challenge of electricity supply can arise due to the cyclone: Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
(File photo) pic.twitter.com/lbsgSKdG44
#CycloneYaas Update24/5/21
- ѕαtчα prαdhαnसत्य नारायण प्रधान ସତ୍ଯପ୍ରଧାନ-DG NDRF (@satyaprad1) May 24, 2021
🔸More @NDRFHQ tms arrive
🔸For Odisha duty
🔸Here tms fm Jamnagar
🔸Lndd at BBSR Arpt
🔸More in transit
🔸To deploy in affctd districts#Committed2Serve🇮🇳 @PMOIndia @HMOIndia @BhallaAjay26 @PIBHomeAffairs @PIBBhubaneswar @ANI @PTI_News @DDNewsHindi pic.twitter.com/jeBeEZIsQA
#CycloneYaas | Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places on 24th May and heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places on 25th May in north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Of 85 NDRF teams, 32 have been deployed in Bengal and 28 in Odisha. Some teams are also out in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Odisha: ADG Law & Order YK Jethwa, visits Balasore and Bhadrak to review cyclone evacuation plans and preparedness for post-cyclone rescue and recovery operations. 60 ODRAF formations and 55 platoons force deployed for tackling #CycloneYaas pic.twitter.com/Nklz91WjYc
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Cyclone Yaas To Intensify Into "Very Severe" Storm, Landfall WednesdayCyclone Yaas is likely to intensify into severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours and will bring winds of speed of up to 180 kms per hour when it makes landfall on West Bengal and Odisha coasts on Wednesday, the weather department said today."
At 0830 IST,CS 'Yaas' centred near 16.4°N/89.6°E, 630 km south-southeast of Balasore (Odisha). Would intensify further into SCS during next 12 hours and into a VSCS during subsequent 24 hours, to cross north Odisha-West Bengal coasts b/w Paradip and Sagar islands around 26th noon pic.twitter.com/8MVn33G4fB
- India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) May 24, 2021
Union Home Minister Amit Shah holds meeting via video conference with the chief ministers of Odisha
- ANI (@ANI) May 24, 2021
Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to review preparations in view of #CycloneYaas pic.twitter.com/KKdQVek6ie
